Letters to the editor

Published 6:39 pm, Thursday, June 6, 2013

To the editor:

I would like to thank the Greenwich community for their enthusiastic participation in Greenwich Reads Together (GRT), the third annual community-wide reading experience. From April to early May, Greenwich became engaged in the exploration of a single book, "When the Emperor was Divine" by Julie Otsuka.

Residents turned out for 19 different events -- readings, expert panels, story times, crafts, music, book discussions, and historical events sponsored by many town-based organizations.

In the schools, more than 2,700 people (students, parents, & faculty) participated in Greenwich Reads Together with 21 programs across the district -- over a thousand more than last year. Two companion books were selected, enabling younger children at the elementary and middle school level to participate as well and the Greenwich Rotary Club received three times the number of essay contest submissions over last year.

This community based program would not be possible without the generous funding provided by the lead sponsor Wiggin and Dana, as well as Connecticut Center for the Book, Rotary Club of Greenwich, Whole Foods, Greenwich Library Board of Trustees, Friends of Greenwich Library and Dr. Laura and Mr. Robert Glanville. I would also like to thank the Greenwich Reads Together Steering Committee which includes Greenwich Library, Greenwich Arts Council, Greenwich Historical Society, Greenwich Alliance for Education, Greenwich Pen Women, Greenwich Public and Independent Schools, and Friends of Greenwich Library.

I thank all of you for joining us in exploring "When the Emperor was Divine."

By replication of misinformation, or plain out and out untruths, by reason of ignorance or social/political persuasion, is exactly how the Nazi/fascists gained control, ergo, power over eastern Europe and more.

Unfortunately, your publication seems to be willing to contribute to and amplify the Republican/Tea Party propaganda; yes just that, by the almost daily publishing, in your "You Said It" column, of the twisted blathering from the same particular global neophyte, from Stamford.

Those readers, with intelligence, will easily recognize the Stamford "You Said It" writer's minimum of global sophistication. That Stamford person's character would become crystal clear with the response to this question: Have you or any of your children ever been in active war service? If so, have they ever seen the brains and body parts smashed and splattered, covered in blood and bile, as I have, in World War II?

Whatever his response, one can have no doubt about his shortage of integrity and lack of empathy for those who mourn the loss or maiming of their loved ones, by continuing to advocate to send more of our fine young men and women to Iraq and the rest of the Middle East, solely for the purpose of increasing the already large fortunes of the oil moguls and munition manufacturers. Enough!